PRIMAVERA DEFEATED BY CAGLIARI

The Primavera’s campaign starts back up again with a defeat. Back from the international break, Abate’s AC Milan didn’t manage to find another win after their recent victory over Lecce and were defeated by Cagliari at the PUMA House of Football. It all ended 2-4 in the game of two halves, actionless in the first half and then thrilling in the second. After a very closed 45 minutes without any goals, the second half saw a lively game with plenty of action up front. A goal from an inspired Liberali and the own goal from Catena wasn’t enough for AC Milan to climb in the rankings.

Abate's team controlled the pace and flow for long stretches of the match, managing the possession but without finding the right solutions in the attack, whilst the guests made the most of their counterattacks. The character of the group was also on show today, particularly in the reactions to going 2-0 down, as well as in the final flurry of chances. A big match now awaits the Primavera, giving them the opportunity to react immediately: Borussia Dortmund will visit the PUMA House of Football on Tuesday 28 November on Matchday 5 of the UEFA Youth League. Forza ragazzi!

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM AC MILAN v CAGLIARI

MATCH REPORT
There were few scoring opportunities for either side at the start of the game, AC Milan were in control of the possession without finding a goal. It was Liberali to fire up the Rossoneri. In the 20th minute, he made a turning shot from inside the area that was blocked by Iliev, and then between the 25th and 27th minutes he managed to carve out two more chances: firstly he caused a panic with a shot from an excellent position in the area but missed the target, then he angled a shot well with his deadly left foot but Iliev reacted to keep him out. The guests tried to attack on the restart, but the AC Milan defence couldn’t be caught out. The last action of the closed first half came as a header from Cuenca who sent Magni's cross out wide (41'). 0-0 at half-time.

Nothing much changed in the first 15 minutes of the second half, but around the hour mark it was as if a different game began. The visitors caught the Rossoneri by surprise and scored twice in the space of a minute. Mutandwa (60') and Konate (61') sealed them the advantage and doubled it. Liberali immediately responded for AC Milan: in the 64th minute, he controlled a long ball from Jiménez, beat his man with a bit of magic and got one back, 1-2. The Rossoneri were lively and pushing forward, but in the 73rd minute, they conceded a third, with Vinciguerra scoring for the visitors. The reaction was immediate yet again, following a corner Catena's own goal made it 2-3 in the 77th minute. The final flurry of chances did not reward the Rossoneri, and at the end, Konate put the game to bed. It finished 2-4

POST-MATCH COMMENTS
Coach Abate spoke following the game: "It was a strange game, we started well and were in control in the first half. They closed down well and started up again quickly, the first goal we conceded changed the game, and we made a few too many errors. We need to be more determined and humble. Tuesday is a big game, and we want to go again with energy and courage". Captain Kevin Zeroli added: "We will need togetherness and intensity against Borussia Dortmund, we need to get back to what we have been doing before now".

MATCH DETAILS

AC MILAN 2-4 CAGLIARI

AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Bartoccioni; Jiménez, Parmiggiani, Nsiala, Magni (68' Bakoune); Malaspina, Stalmach (74' Victor); Cuenca (68' Scotti), Zeroli, Liberali (68' Martinazzi); Sia. Subs: Torriani; Amaral Castilho, Paloschi, Perina; Sala; Simmelhack, Skoczylas. Coach: Abate.

CAGLIARI (4-3-3): Iliev; Arba, Cogoni (83' Pintus), Catena, Idrissi; Sulev (83' Deriu), Carboni, Marcolini; Konate, Vinciguerra, Mutandwa (83' Achour). Subs: Renna; Balde, Casali, Conti, Franke, Mellino, Pulina. Coach: Pisacane.

Referee: Zoppi from Firenze.
Goals: 60' Mutandwa (C), 61' Konate (C), 64' Liberali (M), 73' Vinciguerra (C), 77' aut. Catena (M), 96' Konate (C).
Booked: 45' Jiménez (M), 50' Magni (M), 83' Mutandwa (C), 87' Carboni (C), 88' Zeroli (M), 89' Vinciguerra (C).

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